Chapter 1000 - This Game Is Too Realistic

Chapter 1000: Final Destination As the hibernation pod sealed shut, countless thoughts raced through Jiang Xuezhou's mind. She even considered that once she fell asleep, she might never wake again. Yet, despite the myriad emotions swirling within her, there wasn't an ounce of fear in her heart. She could feel someone holding her hand. The warmth passing through her fingertips was not just from her own flowing blood, but something else as well. She couldn't recall the person's name, nor remember their face, only that it was a gentle sister. She had been there all along. And she'd waited a full 215 years... Peacefully closing her eyes, Jiang Xuezhou drifted into slumber. As the Orion Cruiser jumped into hyperspace, she completed both their first and final meeting, despite remaining unconscious. It was an extremely long dream. In the dream, she encountered many people. Although she was asleep in the dream and hadn’t opened her eyes for even a second, everyone seemed to know her. They knew her face, her name. She vaguely felt that perhaps she wasn't there alone. Someone else, who set out with her—or perhaps just a moment later—had already been there and told them her name. In that invisible darkness, she was not alone. At that moment, a hand gently brushed her forehead. There was a voice, warm and soft. "…You will survive." "Your companion, is a brave child... and his bravery rivals any of ours." The voice was like a torch dispelling the darkness, instantly illuminating her entire world. And as the light of dawn broke, all the darkness surrounding her crumbled like faded clay under that ever-brightening light. She faintly heard another voice. That voice, filled with frustration, was drawn out like the wails and howls of a ghost lingering in the abyss. "…Why…" "200 years! I’ve waited 200 years!" "Why oppose me? Why?!" It seemed that something had struck him hard. Had someone done something? At that moment, Jiang Xuezhou wasn't fully aware of what had occurred during her time of unconsciousness that had altered the original timeline version of herself. The data packet she downloaded into her bionic chip while hacking into the warp engine’s cache server was now releasing at an astounding speed, surging along the data lines at her neck into the Orion missile cruiser’s onboard server. The anguished roar came from an AI called "The Navigator." The spirit residing on old circuit boards. Perhaps until its destruction, it would never have imagined that those it killed over 200 years ago would turn around and behead it with the very sword it wielded… It was all over. In a daze, Jiang Xuezhou seemed to see the hibernation pod's door close a second time. There was a man clad in power armor. Having completed everything, he'd intended to sit down and rest but suddenly stood up as if he remembered something, exited the gnarled, deformed cockpit. Though her eyes couldn't see him, she vaguely sensed everything occurring outside. And just as that door closed, it was immediately forced open again, a familiar figure bursting anxiously inside. He was fumblingly searching for something in the room. His clumsy appearance almost made her want to laugh, then cry, yet tears wouldn’t come. In this strange and bizarre dream, she could do nothing, not even open her eyes. Fortunately, though, that clumsy guy ultimately found what he was looking for. It appeared to be a key. And then he seemed to have finally noticed her lying there, approaching her with overwhelming joy. Just as she tried to open her eyes to see him, her blurring vision was covered with a layer of frost, and the senses she'd lost began to return to her. Feeling the piercing pain in her abdomen, she furrowed her brows, unable to stifle a groan. It was then that a flustered voice came from not far away. "…Don't get up yet. I’m patching your wound!" Crusted blood glued her eyelids, preventing her from opening them. But upon hearing that familiar voice, the tension in her nerves immediately slackened. "Night Ten..." "I'm right here! Hang in there!" Standing beside the hibernation pod, Night Ten, dripping with sweat, applied a thawed coagulant gel to her abdominal wound. The emergency airlock of the landing craft had opened, filling the cockpit with air. Under positive pressure, the distorted, deformed door was held tightly shut against the frame. Simultaneously, the artificial gravity system of the starship had rebooted, allowing the cabin to experience near-lunar gravity, gradually restoring to 1G. The stabbing pain was gradually replaced by a cool sensation as Jiang Xuezhou softly breathed, the blood-crusted over her eyes melted by her warm tears. "Ooh…" Seeing Jiang Xuezhou’s tears streaming down her face, Night Ten panicked, hurriedly asking. "Does it hurt?" She gently shook her head, whispering, "No, it doesn't." Yet those tears were relentless, flowing more freely. If it doesn't hurt, why are you crying? Seeing her tear-streaked face, Night Ten was utterly perplexed, at a loss. However, his hands never stopped moving. Following Lin Youyou's instructions, he successfully staunched her bleeding and wrapped a bandage tightly around her. As an unlicensed amateur healer, that was the best he could do. As for repairing radiation damage, they could only rely on Earth’s Alliance biological research institutes for help or think of another way later. Surely there’s a solution. "…The bleeding's stopped, but your space suit was beyond repair. I rigged up an exoskeleton suit for outside—it should work like one." Jiang Xuezhou, her eyes rimmed red, gave a soft "Mm," then lay silently still. He’d never seen her so quiet; Night Ten couldn't help but stare a bit longer. To his surprise, the usually feisty girl suddenly blushed, shrank back, hiding. "…Don’t look at me…" Seeing his reflection in her eyes, Jiang Xuezhou turned her head aside bashfully. "Right now… like this… I look terrible." To be fair, she did. Her hair nearly entirely fallen out, her body covered in congealed blood clots or fluid from her damaged skin, she looked like a freshly hatched chick. Before, he might have thoughtlessly teased her about it. But now, he was no longer that clueless self. Did it matter if she was an NPC or a living person? Not at all. What truly mattered was his unwavering heart at this very moment. Staring deeply into those bright, clear eyes, he spoke with feeling in a way he’d never dared before. "…I'm not bothered." Time seemed frosted over. The air, frozen, encapsulated the reddening sky. All was quiet. Their silence stretched on until finally a stubborn whisper escaped her lightly-bitten lips. "…Don’t force yourself." As it turned out, coaxing ivory words from a dog’s mouth was impossible. Jiang Xuezhou, moved to tears one moment, suddenly found herself furious the next. What do you mean you’re not bothered? She admitted she looked pitiful right now, but what led her here? Ah, if only she’d known—she might as well have died! Using the last of her strength, she gritted her teeth, emotions boiling almost to explosion. This guy was doing it on purpose, right? He must be! While simmering in her mounting grievance, ready to burst into sobs, a gust of wind suddenly brushed her face. Before she realized it, the heat spilling from her lips had been stopped by a surge of fervent emotion. That warmth dispelled the cold, melting the ice around her heart... Her pupils dilated for a moment, then misted over with tears before she slowly closed her eyes again. All the grievances and pain she endured, and the helplessness and despair she felt in the face of adversity, were all transformed into the faint taste of salt at the corner of her lips. Those things no longer mattered. In the face of this unprecedented happiness, all those past events seemed redundant. She wished time could stop at this moment forever. Let that warmth linger just a little longer… … As their lips parted, Jiang Xuezhou wasn't the only one whose face turned as red as an apple — so was the person leaning on the hibernation pod. His posture was indescribably awkward, like an orange cat stuck halfway up the stairs. Yet at this moment, she felt utterly content, with no desire to tease or banter. Burying her now rosy-red face, she muttered softly, "Idiot... are you trying to knock my teeth out with a kiss..." Too sneaky. To use such a move... How could she possibly stay mad? Night Ten, his own face flushed, stammered at the bashful Jiang Xuezhou, "I-I didn't mean to..." He had tried hard to mimic Chang Fang, but for some reason, it still went wrong. Maybe he’d talked too much nonsense usually, and his mouth was incapable of uttering those sappy words. But that's indeed how he felt at that moment. No matter how she changed, or whether there was a possibility of healing or not, he wouldn't abandon her. "What I mean is, no matter what changes, I... like you?" Jiang Xuezhou's previously softened fists tightened again, and she felt an urge to smack him sideways. "Why is 'like' a question?! You... can't you just say it straightforwardly? Annoying!" Feeling slightly embarrassed himself, Night Ten’s face turned an even darker red as he retorted, "Alright, fine! I like you! I like you! I like you!" He said it three times in one breath, making up for all the times he hadn't said it before. Hearing that word left Jiang Xuezhou's face vividly flushed with color; steam practically rose from her ears as she melted like a snowman left under the sun. Night Ten, never one to lose an argument, didn't miss this chance to counter-attack. Watching the now softened and bewildered-looking Jiang Xuezhou, he pushed his advantage, face red from both embarrassment and triumph: "I've said it, now it’s your turn." "M-me?" Caught off guard by the sudden question, Jiang Xuezhou lost her composure, her voice wavering out of tune. As she tried to look elsewhere, Night Ten wouldn't let her escape, steadfastly meeting her eyes and repeating, "Yes, I've told you already. I like you, and I can't help it. Even if it embarrasses you, I want to say it. I don't want to nearly lose you again as I did before." "…" That one word, "like," was like the toggle on a remote, making her mind go blank with every press. Her soft lips opened and closed repeatedly, bright red flushing across her cheeks like a blazing sunset. Hold on… is this happening too quickly? Shouldn't she think it over more carefully? Even if she didn't dislike kids... one or two are fine, and three aren’t entirely unbearable. But really, she ought to ask about Yue Han’s opinion, right? Could the child accept her becoming an aunt all of a sudden? It was only after imagining her granddaughter's name that she suddenly realized she was thinking way too far ahead, and felt an urge to dunk her burning head into ice to cool off. Night Ten wasn’t aware of what odd thoughts entertained her mind, nor did he press further. Instead, he watched her closely, catching her timid, deer-like eyes, patiently awaiting an answer. Finally... That person, even less forthright than he was, couldn't bear making him wait any longer. In halting tones, she finally gave a response both of them already understood. "Like…" "Like who?" "Like… you, you— um!" Before she could finish, he silenced her once more. … Jiang Xuezhou finally sat up in the hibernation pod ten minutes later. Thanks to the hemostatic gel, her abdominal wound had begun to scab and was slowly healing. As a "cyborg," her adaptability and healing surpassed that of any wastelander. This superiority is part of what makes institute members so precious to wastelanders. Though still physically weak, Jiang Xuezhou could manage to stand and walk in a normal gravitational field. Following Lin Youyou's final instructions, Night Ten assisted her in changing into an external exoskeleton for mobility. After the wound scabs over, leaving the 'icebox' sooner promotes blood circulation and metabolism, while prolonged stay in the pod isn't beneficial. With exoskeleton support, Night Ten wasn’t worried about her stumbling or falling. Ensuring safety, Night Ten sealed the emergency airlock and opened the cockpit door. The cockpit’s air was instantly evacuated, reverting to a vacuum. Under Night Ten’s assistance, Jiang Xuezhou carefully descended from the lander's hatch. Upon seeing her wince and arch her back in pain, Night Ten, who had only just let go, quickly moved to support her again. "What’s wrong? Is there something uncomfortable?" "I'm okay. The wound just pulled a bit... You don't have to treat me like I’m made of glass." Jiang Xuezhou murmured, face flushed, embarrassed by his sudden attentiveness. Yet despite her words, she couldn’t deny the sweetness she felt inside. "I'm just worried about you..." Night Ten rubbed the back of his head, tightening his grip on her hand, "Take it easy. Don't let go of my hand." With a gentle "Mm," Jiang Xuezhou nodded silently, but squeezed his hand more tightly. She relished the current feeling. Even though their situation wasn't optimistic — they were light-years from Earth — The reactor fuel probably won't sustain another jump; otherwise, that android wouldn’t seem as urgent. But despite the challenges, she felt no fear in her heart. Why? She felt she'd been there before. Everything was familiar, as if she were in her own living room. "By the way… I had a very long dream just now." Eyeing the android remains buried in corner debris, Jiang Xuezhou quietly spoke. Night Ten gently squeezed her hand. "What did you dream about?" Jiang Xuezhou closed her eyes to recall that bizarre dream intently. "I met many people I didn’t know… They talked a lot, but I couldn’t clearly hear most of it. Right, there was this sister who patted my head and told me… I’d be okay." After a pause, Night Ten asked, "Was her name Lin Youyou?" Jiang Xuezhou paused, placing her left hand on her forehead. "…That name sounds so familiar, like I've heard it before." Night Ten pulled out a recorder from his pocket, handing it to the bewildered Jiang Xuezhou. "Maybe… it wasn’t a dream, but something that truly happened." He had promised to show Jiang Xuezhou to her. It seemed now that they might've already met. During his absence from the scene. Receiving the recorder from Night Ten, Jiang Xuezhou focused, whispering wistfully. "I think… it didn’t feel like a dream." Rubbing her helmet tenderly, Night Ten reassured her, "Well, it’s fine now that you’re awake… They handed us command of the starship — it’s mostly out of commission, but there should still be some operational parts. Why don’t you explore around while I log out to check in with my friends?" Bound to be near Sagittarius A by now. No player had gone further in this game, not even on par with those trailblazers at Polaris. However, that brought about several new challenges. Later, he’d consult the forums about their next steps, while also giving Guang Ge some leverage; the world beyond five light-years wasn't merely a big story. It may have been before, but the tale is set now. Not that there's any braggery involved. Would he act as shallow as that? Though he entertained such thoughts, his grin nearly broke through his facade. Watching Night Ten babble on inexplicably, Jiang Xuezhou tilted her head in curiosity. "Log out?" "Uh, it's kind of like... a sensory method. I've told you I have some special abilities, right? Never mind, don't worry about it. Give me just two minutes." Night Ten hastily changed the subject, having let it slip unintentionally. Ignoring her suspicious gaze, he sat down against the wall, closed his eyes, and logged out. However, given his hasty logout, his cool seated posture didn't last for even two seconds before he collapsed forward, hitting the ground with his head. Seeing Night Ten curling up like a shrimp, Jiang Xuezhou couldn't help but sigh in exasperation. She settled beside him with a soft "hey," gently shifting his wooden head onto her lap. It reminded her that something like this had happened before. He had claimed he could see other shelter residents by closing his eyes and communicate even when physical means were cut off. She used to think he was exaggerating, but now it seemed he might have been serious. Yet this was five light-years away... Could special abilities really pull something like that off? "This idiot does look quite cute when he's asleep..." Watching his peaceful, sleeping face, Jiang Xuezhou couldn't resist reaching out to lightly tap his nose with her fingertip. He was like a little pig—no matter how much you moved him, he wouldn’t wake up. After all they'd been through, perhaps he too was exhausted. With a soft smile of gentle affection, she lightly ran her fingers through his smooth, black hair, whispering softly, "Thank you." To be continued.